Jamie Vardy Is the Last of a Dying Breed of Villains in Soccer Today
It seems in modern soccer the role of the villain has been forgotten in exchange for professionalism. However, these modern-day gladiators who see victory as not just three points but as a means of complete mental and physical domination on the pitch have a shining torch bearer in the 37-year-old Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is the epitome of a master of the dark arts, and he showed this in the season opener at home versus Tottenham when he was seen taunting fans as he was subbed off. He pointed to the Premier League crest on his sleeve to signal Leicester City’s 2016 Premier League winning season then going on to remind the away fans that Tottenham has never won the Premier League by holding up a zero gesture. This is not his first time taunting away fans, only the most recent, after scoring the second goal to seal a game in 2019 against Crystal Palace he celebrates by flapping his arms like an eagle mocking their team mascot. Similarly, in the 2021-22 season, he howled like a wolf to Wolverhampton Wanders FC fans, and in 2020 he slid into the corner flag and shattered its base in celebration against his boyhood team Sheffield United.
Vardy is one of the last from his generation as players like Diego Costa and Sergio Ramos have either retired or moved out of the spotlight. Diego Costa now plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, his time at Chelsea from 2014-2018 was where he showed his creative interpretation of the rules of the game. Whether it was a lingering elbow to “protect” himself or an extra-long step to maybe catch a piece of the defender’s leg, there wasn’t a game that the center back in charge of marking him didn’t have some way of remembering the game for a week after. Alternatively, Sergio Ramos in his time at Real Madrid, was a center-back who left attacking players tossing and turning the night before a match in anticipation of the battle to come. Possibly the best example of Ramos’ abilities came in the 2017 Champions League Final against Juventus but more specifically Juan Cuadrado. Cuadrado received a second yellow after seemingly kicking Ramos in the leg while trying to take a quick throw-in. Just before the throw-in Ramos smashed into Cuadrado leaving tempers high already which played right into Ramos’ hands to see the Juventus winger sent off.
In modern games, many believe that these kinds of antics are unprofessional, childish, and don’t belong in the beautiful game. However, there is a minority that recognizes the fact that these kinds of players only add to the excitement on a game day. It’s as if those 80’s teen movies didn’t have those stereotypical bullies that push the protagonist to evolve. Players like these men are needed to enhance a game and keep it entertaining. There is some hope as there are younger players like Neal Maupay and Richarlison seemingly have taken up the mantle to carry on a dying role on the pitch. Both have almost evolved the role by taking it to social media to not only antagonize their opponents during a match but also rile up some opposing fans.
